Yet another........

......highly desirable, yes even drool worthy, beauty brought to us by Hogspear.
Edwardian 16th Lancers Lieutenants Dress Tunc!

Fancy Britches!

Victorian Oxfordshire Hussars Full Dress Tunic and Pantaloons.

Fancy everything, just look at the detail in the cuffs!
Courtesy of Hogspear , of course!

Nearly complete, well sort of.

The Household Cavalry- Blues and Royals
London, England 2005 ©Jeffrey Netz

The Have's:
Blues and Royals Tunic
Blues and Royals Aiguillettes
Buff Breeches
Other Ranks Peaked Cap
Gauntlets
Crossbelt and Pouch
Buff Leather Sword Belt
Sword(reproduction)

The Have Not's:
The Blues and Royal's Helmet

Cuirrass

and the boots.

Ok, I'f I'm going to be greedy I may as well wish for the Trooper's Foul Weather Cloak

Of course it is the big tickets items that I lack. With a little luck, time and about $3000 to $4000 this uniform will be complete.

Household Cavalry

Can you blame me......

.........for coveting this Uniform? This 17th Lancers Officer Parade Uniform and Helmet recently sold for about £2550 for the uniform and £3150 for helmet. Of course it was listed by my favorite seller of British Militaria: Hogspear

Thank you, kind sir, for bringing us so many wonderful items!

And special thanks to Lieutenant Colonel Lord Bingham for designing this stunner!

Wish List!

Yes, Please! This Black Watch Regiment Drum Major's Parade Mace would go along way to finishing off my Uniform. As far as I can tell I have 14 of 17 of the Black Watch Drum Major's Uniform parts. Not to bad at all. Considering that it is currently sitting at £180 with the auction nearly over plus an estimated £50 to ship from London this won't be mine.

Yes, I currently have a pouty face.

Edited to add: Holy Crap! The auction ended and it sold for a whopping £462. That's $762. I'd say next time but since this is the only one I have seen there most likely won't be another.

Did you know?

On parade, the Royal Horse Artillery takes precedence over every other regiment and corps in the Regular British Army; placed at the right of the line.

The Royal Artillery has been present at every campaign in which the British Army has fought. They have one battle honour, Ubique ("Everywhere"), granted by William IV in 1833. Its subsidiary motto is Quo Fas et Gloria Ducunt ("Where Right and Glory Lead").

Her Majesty the Queen is the Captain General and St Barbara the patron saint of Artillerymen. They celebrate their saint's day on the 4th December. They have their own prayer (The Royal Artillery Collect), musical marches and museum.

"What size is this.....?"

For love of God people, if you are going to sell a Uniform or any clothing item on ebay, etsy, etc., please list the measurements. I don't mean "size M"(unless you are buying a Gap T-shirt) or "fits a tall thin build". None of this are helpful.

British Tunics are often marked, for example size 14, size 21, etc. For us Yanks on this side of the pond that doesn't really mean much. There possibly is a chart or table that shows how these corresponds in terms of actual measurements. I have asked that famous Uniform maker Kashket & Partners if they have such a thing. If I receive one I'll be sure to post.

For starters if you are selling a Tunic, Jacket, Suit Coat, etc., at a minimum please list:
The chest measurement, usually you can measure from armpit to armpit and double that number.
The sleeve length, a bit more accurate if measured from shoulder seam to cuff.
The overall length, some measure from base of collar to bottom, some include the collar.
If you are selling something like a tailcoat, a measurement from the collar to waist in front is also helpful.
The neck, this is more accurate if you measure around the inside of the collar.
The back width, measure across the back from sleeve seam to sleeve seam.

If you are selling trousers, breeches, pants, etc., at a minimum please list:
The waist, simply lay the pants down flat, measure across the waist and double.
The inseam, measure from the highest part of the crotch to the bottom of the cuff.
The outside length, some find this helpful. Measure from the hip, down the side of the leg to the base of cuff.

If you are selling caps, hats, helmets or a busby that does not have a size marked, simply measure around the inside of the headband. Most people are smart enough to measure their own head.

If you are selling kilts or skirts, please include the waist measurement and length, usually referred as "drop" for kilts. Kilts are usually slightly adjustable. I would recommend fastening the kilt on the middle buckle holes and measure across the waist and double that number. I usually include the waist measurement and that it is adjustable about 1 or 2 inches either way in a sales listing. For skirts, if the back is longer than the front include both measurements.

There are of course people that sell rare Uniforms and consider them to be "collectable, not meant to be worn". Well, there isn't much one can do here. I did ask someone once and well, the reply was less than polite.

As a rule of thumb I always include the disclaimer "approximate measurements are....".
There will always be some idiot that wants a refund because you said the Tunic "is a 38 inch chest" and the buyer says it is 37.5 inches.

Hopefully if you include these measurements you will save yourself some time and trouble when selling Uniforms or clothing. Nothing bugs me more than 12 potential buyers asking me "what size is this?". Well, ok, there are things that bug me more but you hopefully get my point.

Please remember that these are not absolute rules, just a guideline that has saved me a lot time.

17th Lancers

The 17th Light Dragoons were renamed and rearmed into Lancers in 1822 and 1823. The reasoning behind the move was in imitation of the Polish Lancers who had fought so well alongside Napoleon. It was the Duke of York, the Commander-in-Chief, who first proposed the idea in 1816. The first unit to be converted to Lancers was the 9th Light Dragoons, but this was deemed to have been sufficiently successful that another five regiments were chosen for conversion, the l7th Light Dragoons was one of those five. The Polish connection is not hard to miss: the uniforms, lances and pennants can all be traced in style to the Polish regiments that inspired them. Perhaps the biggest surprise was that the regiments were forced to abandon their carbines in order to make room for the Lances. It would be another sixty years before they realised that the Carbines really were intrinsically important to the effectiveness of Light Cavalry. It could be said that the graduation of the unit from Light Dragoons to Lancers was actually a step back in to time rather than a practical military advance in technology. It would take the Crimean war to demonstrate just how much more innovation was needed to make the British forces into an effective fighting force.

This image has been taken from Stephen Luscombe's website. Copyright, of course, remains with him.

Click on the image for a larger view and more information.

The new uniforms represented a huge investment in time, money and effort for the soldiers to look presentable. It is from this era that the 17th took on another of its nicknames 'Bingham's Dandies' after its new Lieutenant Colonel Lord Bingham. He was a stickler for presentation and invested in the finest horses and tailors to produce incredibly ornate uniforms. In the long years of peace of this period, it was appearance that took precedence over military effectiveness. Thirty four years of peace time activities for the regiment were about to be shaken by war in the East.

The Crimean War

In 1854 the 17th Lancers were ordered abroad as part of an Anglo-French expeditionary forces to help Turkey who had been invaded by Russia. Upon arrival the force discovered that the Turkish Army had repulsed the Russian invasion. It was then decided to capture the Czar's intended fleet base at Sebastopol. In order to achieve this, the force passed to the South of the town to the small fishing village of the new famous Balaklava.

Charge of The Light Brigade

The battle of Balaklava consisted of three distinct actions. In the first, the 93rd Regiment of Foot (now the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders), withstood and repulsed an attack by a vastly superior force of Russians. The second is remembered as "The Charge of the Heavy Brigade", in which a number of Dragoon Regiments routed a force of Russians ten times their strength. The third and final action in which the 17th Lancers were involved and which is still celebrated every year on 25th October, was "The Charge of the Light Brigade", immortalised in the poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. This famous charge only took place as a result of misinterpreted orders issued by the Command in Chief, General Lord Raglan, to General Lord Lucan the Commander of the Cavalry Division. Lord Lucan ordered Major General Lord Cardigan, who commanded the Light Brigade, to lead a force consisting of five Cavalry Regiments, of which the 17th were one, against a line of Russian guns which were sighted at the far end of a long valley. With the 17th as left forward Regiment the advance began. Those watching expected the Brigade to wheel and attack the intended target, but to their amazement the advance continued at the trot and in perfect formation towards the Russian guns.

The first salvo was fired at about 500 yards and took a heavy toll. Such was the discipline standard of training and courage of the Light Brigade, however, that the advance continued unabated with the gaps created by the enemy fire quickly being filled by other Cavalry men. At last with only a few hundred yards remaining, Lord Cardigan have the order to charge, and the 17th Lancers led by their Commanding Officer, Captain William Morris, swept down on the enemy. The final Russian salvo caused untold injury to the attacking force but despite this, the gun lines were over-run.

The battle continued until finally the order to withdraw was given. The 17th Lancers had paid a high price for this victory. Of the 145 who set out only about 38 all ranks could be accounted for at the final roll call. By their actions however, the Regiment earned 3 Victoria Crosses that day.

The 17th played a minor role in the battle of Inkerman but continued to suffer daily from the privations of maladministration and the weather in the area. It was with some relief that the unit was reposted to Ireland in 1855 although it barely had time to make itself comfortable there when a new crisis rose to threaten the stability of the Empire: the Indian Mutiny.

17th Lancers

17th/21st Lancers Stable Belt

Yes, I badly want one! I have lost 4 auctions for this belt. I did actually win one but sadly, it was lost in the mail from the UK. I keep looking but these are extremely rare and it's been six months since I have seen one.

Someday!

A somewhat accurate inventory

Here is a somewhat accurate inventory:

Not including belts, badges, pouches, etc.

Tunics, Mess, Doublets, etc.:

Cavalry Field Officers Parade Tunic

Jacket Hampshire Regiment Volunteer Officers Parade Tunic, circa 1870-1880

Scottish Black Watch Regiment Drum Major's Doublet, circa 1890-1900

Household Cavalry- Blues and Royals, Other Ranks Parade Tunic

Irish Guards Colour Sergeant Parade Tunic

General Officers Tropical Tunic w/belt

Queens Dragoons Regiment Mess Dress Uniform w/ waistcoat and trousers. This uniform is worn by the Regimental Command Sergeant Major, the only person to hold this title.

Welsh Fusiliers Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO) Dress Blues, aka No. 1 Blues. The collar badges are not correct, they are vintage bullion Welsh Fusiliers Officers Collar Badges. The two sleeve patches (not the stripes) are also incorrect. Ok, I took some creative license here.

16th/5^th Lancers Officers Mess Dress w/ waistcoat, no trousers.

17^th Lancers Officers Dress Blues, aka No. 1 Blues.

Irish Guards No. 1 Blues, not currently badged but will badge to a Colour Sergeant.

Trousers, Breeches, Kilts, etc. :

Household Cavalry Buff Leather Breeches. Can be worn by either the Blues and Royals or The Life Guards.

Diplomatic Officers/Lord Lieutenants Dress Trousers, circa 1900.

Queens Dragoons Regiment Mess Dress Uniform Trousers.

Mess Dress or Parade Trousers w/ Boot Straps. I do not know the correct Regiment.

Mess Dress or Parade Trousers w/o Boot Straps. I do not know the correct Regiment.

17^th Lancers Officers Parade/Mess Trousers, circa 1950.

Cavalry Officers Breeches, early 21^st century.

Scottish Black Watch Regiment Other Ranks Kilt, circa 1950.

Rifles Regiment Officers Trousers.

Caps, Busby, Bearskin:

Queens Dragoons Regiment Peaked Cap

Non-Regimental Specific Peaked Cap (All Black)

17^th Lancers Peaked Cap. Note: This cap has 17^th Lancers buttons on the chinstrap but the cap itself might not actually be 17^th Lancers, possibly Queens Royal Lancers.

Unknown Regiment Peaked Cap. The Badge is a vintage Welsh Fusiliers Officers Badge.

Household Cavalry-The Life Guards Other Ranks Peaked Cap.

Royal Artillery Officers Side Cap. WWII era.

17^th Lancers Officers Side Cap, circa 1950.

Officers Pill Box Cap. Exact regiment unknown but possibly Gurkha.

Rifle Regiment Busby, possibly for a bandsman.

Pre-1856 Yeomanry Shako fitting.

Scottish Black Watch Regiment Pipers Feather Bonnet w/ Black Watch badge and plume. There are 4 tails tucked inside of the right rear portion. Includes a carry bag.

Guards Bearskin Hat/Helmet with brass curb or chin chain. Currently this Bearskin has an Irish Guards Plume.

Diplomatic Officers/Lord Lieutenants Cocked Bicorn Hat, circa 1890-1900.

Irish Guards Other Ranks Peaked Cap

Royal Artillery Officers Mess Dress

I sorely wish that I could keep all of the Uniforms that I have owned. I intend to wear each Uniform at least once and if it does not fit, sadly it must go. I just don't have storage for everything or the money to collect just because.

Here is one of the finest that I have ever owned:







A Pre-WWI Royal Artillery Officers Mess Dress complete with the Pill-Box Cap. The unusual thing about this Uniform is that it was worn by the Senior Medical Officer and all of the trim is silver instead of gilt.

Sadly, the seller couldn't measure worth a damn. There is a big difference between a 38 inch chest as listed and the 32 inch chest that it actually is.

Rent was due so off it went.